Sports and/or orthopaedic footwear with device for relative articulation between insole and upper

ABSTRACT

Sports and/or orthopaedic footwear comprising an insole ( 10, 10   a,    10   b ), an upper ( 20 ) formed by a top-upper part ( 20   a ) and a bottom-upper part ( 20   b ) joined to the insole ( 10 ), and a device ( 100 ) for relative articulation of the insole/upper, characterized in that said articulation device comprises: —a first ring ( 110 ) which has a first bottom-upper front arm ( 111 ) and a second bottom-upper rear arm ( 112 ) which are joined to said bottom upper; —a second ring ( 120 ) which has an arm ( 121 ) adapted to be fixed to the top upper ( 20   a ), said second ring having at least two diametrically opposite eyelets ( 123 ) extending over a predefined annular section of the circumference of the said ring; —an anti-friction annular body ( 130 ) arranged between said first ring ( 110 ) and second ring ( 120 ); —an outer cover ( 140 ) for closing the articulation device, provided with stops ( 145 ) projecting outwards in the transverse direction (Y-Y) and designed to be inserted in suitable angular positions inside respective eyelets ( 123 ) of the second ring ( 120 ).

The present invention relates to sports and/or orthopaedic footwear with a device for relative articulation of insole/upper.

It is known that, in numerous sporting activity sectors such as motorcycle racing, winter disciplines (skiing, snowboarding, snowmobile racing) and/or mountain climbing, the foot is subject to relative movements with respect to the leg such as rotations about the longitudinal axis of the foot, known as supination and pronation, and/or rotation about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, known as plantar flexion and dorsal extension; said relative movements are made possible by the ankle articulation.

It is also known that, during the sporting activity, the plantar rotations (forwards rotation) and even more so dorsal rotations (backwards rotation) of the foot constitute one of the main causes of injuries in the tibiotarsal region of the person practicing the activity.

In order to limit these injuries, motorcyclist boots have been proposed, as for example known from EP 0,950,361, these boots comprising means keeping the foot and the leg sections hinged together by means of an articulated joint which is positioned on the centre of the malleoli and the stiffness of which can be varied by means of an adjustment of the relative friction between the rotating parts. Although performing their function, these boots, however, have the drawback that they do not allow effective locking of the rotational movement of the foot, said rotation being controlled only by the friction which is adjusted by means of screws; this results in a variation, over time, of the adjustment due to slackening of the screws, as a result of vibration and/or wear of the friction material, which arise during use, with consequent loss of the adjustment position and a return into a condition where there is a risk of injury.

Similar prior art examples are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,778 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,773 which describe an articulation device for guards comprising two arms hinged together on a pin centred on the malleolus of the user and respectively connected to the insole and the upper of the footwear; this configuration gives rise to the following three principal drawbacks: impossibility of controlling pronation and supination of the foot; the impossibility of adjusting the height of the articulated joint in relation to the different positions of the internal and external malleoli; and the impossibility of protecting the malleoli from impacts.

The technical problem which is posed, therefore, is that of providing sports and/or orthopaedic footwear provided with means which, once they have been preset for the specific use of the footwear, are able to limit effectively and irreversibly all the relative movements of the foot with respect to the ankle, including pronation and supination.

In particular, a motorcyclist's boot provided with means able to limit the plantar and dorsal rotation of the foot with respect to the leg is required.

In connection with this problem, it is also required that the footwear should be easy and inexpensive to produce and assemble, be able to be easily worn by the user and at the same time should have a high degree of fitting comfort.

These results are obtained according to the present invention by sports and/or orthopaedic footwear with a device for relative articulation of the upper and insole according to the characteristic features of claim 1.

Further details may be obtained from the following description of a non-limiting example of embodiment of the subject of the present invention, provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1: shows an exploded perspective view of the insole with sole reinforcement and part of the anti-rotational means of the footwear according to the present invention;

FIG. 2: shows a front, perspective, diagrammatic view of the footwear according to FIG. 1 with the anti-rotational means positioned on both sides of the foot (not shown);

FIG. 3: shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional view along the plane indicated by III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4: shows a schematic cross-section along the plane indicated by IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5: shows views of the detail of the rotation adjustment means in two different end-of-travel positions;

FIG. 6: shows a rear view of a preferred embodiment of an adjustable upper for the footwear according to the invention;

FIG. 7: shows a side view of the upper according to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8: shows a rear view of the upper according to FIG. 6 in the assembled condition;

FIG. 9: shows a perspective view of the upper according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 10: shows a rear view and bottom view, respectively, of a preferred asymmetrical embodiment of the sole of the footwear according to the invention;

FIG. 11: shows a front view, side views and a cross-sectional view of the detail of a preferred embodiment of the reinforced toe of the footwear according to the invention; and

FIG. 12: shows a facing-end view, rear perspective view and cross-sectional view of the detail of a preferred embodiment of the heel with reinforcing element.

As shown and assuming for the sake of easier description and without a limiting meaning a set of three reference axes extending in a longitudinal direction X-X parallel to the length of the sole, transverse direction Y-Y parallel to the width of the sole and vertical direction Z-Z, perpendicular to the preceding directions, as well as a front part corresponding to the toe of the footwear, a rear part corresponding to the heel thereof, an inner side and an outer side respectively corresponding to the inner flank and outer flank of the user's foot, the footwear according to the invention comprises substantially:

-   -   an upper 20 formed by a top-upper part 20 a and a bottom-upper         part 20 b;     -   an insole 10 with an inner side 10 a and outer side 10 b, which         is fixed to the upper 20 by means of stitching, gluing or         equivalent technology suitable for fastening the insole to the         bottom upper 20 a;     -   a controlled-articulation device 100 applied to the upper 20 and         comprising from the inside towards the outside:     -   a first ring 110 which has, extending therefrom, a bottom-upper         20 a front arm 111 and a rear bottom-upper 20 a arm 112;         said first ring 110 has two radial, inner, diametrically         opposite seats 113 for receiving a respective pin 114 with         female thread 114 a. Preferably, as can be seen from the example         shown, one of the two seats is arranged between the two said         bottom-upper 20 a arms 111,112.

Once the pins have been inserted inside the respective seat, they are generally locked in position in a conventional manner.

Each bottom-upper arm 111,112 also has a plurality of respective holes 111 c,112 c which are uniformly spaced along its length so as to allow fixing of the arms onto different types of upper made of leather and/or of a thermoplastic polymer.

The said first ring 110 forms the first part of an articulation which also comprises:

-   -   a second ring 120 from which a top-upper 20 b arm 121 extends;         the top-upper arm 121 also has a plurality of holes 121 c which         are uniformly spaced along its length so as to allow fixing of         the arm to the said upper in/at different positions/heights of         the latter.

The second ring 120 has at least two diametrically opposite eyelets 123 extending over a predefined annular section of the circumference of the ring and with a width such as to allow insertion, in the transverse direction Y-Y, of a respective pin 114 of the two which are joined to the first ring 110.

The lengthwise extension of the eyelets 123 may be defined depending on the actual use of the footwear and/or the preferences of the user, as will emerge more clearly below.

A first annular body 130 provided with two diametrically opposite holes 134 with a diameter such as to allow the insertion of a respective pin 114 is arranged between the first ring 110 and the second ring 120 of the articulation; the annular body has two annular edges 131 and 132 situated opposite each other in the transverse direction Y-Y and with a diameter such as to allow insertion, with slight friction, of the rings 110 and 120, respectively, inside the central opening.

As illustrated, in the embodiment shown, the seats 113 of the first ring 110, the holes 134 of the intermediate body 130 and the eyelets 123 of the second ring 120 are aligned with each other along the transverse axis Y-Y so as to allow insertion of the pins 114; in addition, it is envisaged that the thickness of the annular body 130 and of the pins 114 may be such as to allow the pins 114 to pass through the first ring and the intermediate body for insertion of their free end inside the respective eyelet 123 of the second ring 120.

The articulation device 100 also comprises an outer cover 140 provided with two diametrically opposite holes 143 in turn aligned in the transverse direction Y-Y with the holes 134 and the seats 113 and with an inner diameter such as to allow the insertion of a respective screw 144 suitable for engagement with the female thread 114 a of the respective pin 114.

According to a preferred embodiment it is envisaged that, in addition to the holes 143 for receiving the screws 144, the cover 140 also has stops 145 projecting in the transverse direction (Y-Y) and arranged in suitable angular positions so as to be positioned between the pin 114 and the terminal end of the eyelet 123; the stop 145 therefore forms an end-of-travel stop (FIG. 5a,5b ) for angular rotation of the second ring 120 and therefore of top-upper 20 a the arm 121.

With such a configuration the operating principle of the footwear with articulation device is as follows:

-   -   depending on use of the footwear and the preferences of the         user, the second ring 120 is prepared with eyelets 123 of         suitable preselected length for determining the maximum possible         working travel of the pins 114 inserted inside them and         therefore the maximum rotational amplitude of the arm 121 of the         top upper 20 a with respect to the arm 111 of the bottom upper         20 b joined to the insole 10;     -   the articulation device 100 is assembled by mounting, from the         inside towards the outside in sequence in the transverse         direction Y-Y, the following: the first ring 110 with         bottom-upper 20 a arms 111,112, the annular body 130, the second         ring 120 with the top-upper 20 b arm, and the pins 114 which are         inserted inside the respective seat 113 and eyelet 123;     -   the arm 121 is applied to the top upper 20 a;     -   preferably inserting the top-upper arm 121 inside a pocket of         the top upper, thereby fastening the former to the latter;     -   the bottom-upper arms 111,112 are inserted inside special         pockets in the said bottom upper, thereby fastening the former         to the latter;     -   the cover 140 provided with stops 145 suitable for the intended         use of the footwear is chosen and fitted;     -   the footwear is put on.

At this point the footwear is ready for use and is able to limit the respective plantar and dorsal rotations depending on the predefined length of the eyelets 123 of the second ring 120 and the prechosen cover, as well as the supination and pronation movements, owing to the rigidity provided by the fastening between the arms 111,112 and the bottom upper 20 b and between the latter and the insole 10.

Preferably both the bottom-upper arms are inserted inside special seats formed in the upper and fixed by means of screws onto threaded dowel pins inserted inside them, so that the end of the front arm 111 is arranged in a position approximately corresponding to the metatarsal joint of the little toe and big toe of the user, while the rear arm is situated in the heel zone.

By providing different closing covers which are interchangeable with each other and have stops 145 arranged in different angular positions it is therefore possible to vary the degree of rotation of the upper, and therefore the foot, with respect to the insole by simply changing the said cover according to the use of the footwear and/or the individual preferences of the user, also where the footwear is provided ready-for-use with an external shell already applied to the upper.

For the specific case of use by a motorcyclist, for example, preferably three different angles of rotation of the articulated joint are provided, with an increasingly smaller degree of rotation for use in enduro, motocross or supercross racing, respectively.

For an application involving an orthopaedic shoe, the limitation of rotation of the articulated joint may, instead, be total with regard to the plantar and dorsal movements of the ankle.

According to the invention it is also envisaged that the particular ring-type configuration of the articulated joint 100 may allow the insertion of cushioning pads (not shown) which may be personalized, between the malleolus and the articulated joint in order to improve the comfort of the footwear.

As shown in FIG. 1 in a preferred embodiment of the insole 10 of the footwear, said insole is hollowed out internally to a depth such as to allow better stitching together with the bottom upper, thus reducing the thickness of the shoe at the toe, and in particular is provided with two zones, i.e. a front zone 11 and rear zone 12, which are further hollowed out in the thickness of the insole so as to allow the insertion of soft material suitable for increasing the comfort during use and preventing irritation of the user's skin.

As shown in FIG. 10a , a sole 11 is applied to the insole 10, said sole 11 preferably having an asymmetrical form and greater height on the inner side and smaller height on the outer side in order to improve supporting on the footrest P of the motorcycle; in addition it is possible to design the insole 10 with an inner side 10 a which is substantially straight; as shown in FIG. 10b , the sole 11 is in turn preferably shaped with a straight inner side 11 a for facilitating interaction with the gear lever LC shown in broken lines in the figure.

According to a further preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the footwear according to the invention comprises an insert 60 which is applied to the bottom upper 20 b in the vicinity of the heel and is designed to improve the interaction with the gear lever at the start of a race, when the foot is situated in front of the said gear lever, and facilitate changing from second gear to third gear without losing time, said gear changing operation being performed with the heel.

Conveniently, the insert 60 has a first substantially straight section 60 a with a through-hole 61 a and a second section 60 b which is inclined from the top downwards and from the outside towards the inside.

The insert 60 is fixed to the upper 20 b by means of a screw 61 inserted inside the through-hole 61 a and a tooth 62 projecting from the surface of the inclined section 60 b facing the upper 20 b and suitable for insertion inside a heel-piece of the upper 20 b inside which the tooth penetrates through a corresponding seat (not shown).

FIG. 1 also shows a stiffening plate 13 which can be fitted to the bottom surface of the insole in order to improve the rigidity of the insole in the foot-arch and ensure better absorption of impacts and greater stability whilst walking.

With the footwear according to the invention it is also possible to adjust the height of the articulated joint, which is not constrained to the insole, depending on the different positions of the inner and outer malleoli.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment of the footwear, shown in FIG. 11, it is envisaged that said footwear has a toe-piece 50 which is made of a plastic polymer and which is fixed, for example, by means of screws 51 and is suitably shaped with an upper raised profile 52 suitable for interaction with the gear lever (not shown) for more reliable and precise operation thereof. In the vicinity of the outer surface of the bottom upper 20 b, the toe of the footwear also has a further upper reinforcement 53 designed to limit the wear arising from contact with the gear lever.

According to the invention it is envisaged that the thickness and the inner diameter of the rings 110,120 and the annular body 130 are preferably such as to allow retention of a shaped zone of the bottom upper, formed in the region of the malleolus, and of the malleolus itself, once the user has put on the footwear; this allows a significant reduction in the transverse volume of the footwear itself, in particular on its inner side, and therefore, for example in the case of motorcyclists' footwear, closer contact between the user's leg and the motorcycle frame and consequently a better hold thereon, this being particularly advantageous during use of the motorcycle for motorcycling trials, motocross and the like.

It is therefore clear how, with the footwear according to the invention, it is possible to achieve efficient and reliable control of the articulation device with positive and permanent definition of the possible relative rotation of foot/leg determined by the length of the eyelet in the second ring of the articulation device and by the configuration of the stops on the closing cover of the articulated joint.

In this connection it is envisaged that the footwear may be provided with a plurality of second rings having eyelets of different length, each of which specifically designed for the intended use and/or the individual requirements of the user.

In addition, of particular importance for the motorcycling sector is the fact that the design of the articulated joint with internally hollow rings allows a reduction in the thickness of the said articulated joint, this solution allowing the rider to grip more closely the motorcycle with the whole leg and not just the ankle part, as occurs with the footwear of the prior art which, having the articulated joint centred on the malleolus, result in a corresponding greater overall volume in the transverse direction.

The structure of the articulation device moreover, in the event of an impact, ensures a degree of dissipation of the impact energy transmitted to the foot and leg via the footrest P when landing after a jump or if the foot is in contact with the ground while travelling around a bend, which is much greater than that of the known footwear which necessarily concentrates this energy in the malleolus zone, thus ensuring better protection of the inner and outer malleolus region.

According to the invention it is also envisaged that the footwear may comprise movable means 200 for precise adaptation of the closure of the upper to the volume of the user's calf muscle.

As shown in FIGS. 6-9, these means 200 comprise substantially two flaps 210,220, i.e. right-hand flap and left-hand flap, which are designed to embrace the user's calf muscle; each flap 210,220 is fastened to the respective upper arm 130 of the articulated joint 100 and has on its rear a side rack section 212,222 designed to mesh with a corresponding rack 232 present on the front surface of a tongue 230 connecting together the two flaps 210,220; once adjustment has been performed, the flaps may be locked in position by means of screws 241 passing through holes 241 a in the tongue 230 and screwed into a respective hole 212,213 with female thread in each flap 210,220.

Although described in connection with a number of embodiments and a number of preferred examples of embodiment of the invention, it is understood that the scope of protection of the present patent is determined solely by the claims below. 

1. Sports and/or orthopaedic footwear comprising: an insole, an upper formed by a top-upper part and a bottom-upper part joined to the insole, a device for relative articulation of the insole/upper, said articulation device comprising: a first ring which has a first bottom-upper front arm and a second bottom-upper rear arm which are joined to said bottom upper, wherein said first ring has two diametrically opposite, radial, inner seats for receiving a respective pin with female thread; second ring which has an arm adapted to be fixed to the top upper, wherein said second ring has at least two diametrically opposite eyelets extending over a predefined annular section of the circumference of the ring itself; an anti-friction annular body arranged between said first ring and second ring, wherein the annular body has two diametrically opposite holes with a diameter such as to allow a respective pin to pass through; and an outer cover for closing the articulation device, provided with stops projecting outwards in the transverse direction (Y-Y) and designed to be inserted in suitable angular positions inside respective eyelets of the second ring, wherein the outer cover is provided with two diametrically opposite holes in turn aligned in the transverse direction with the holes of the intermediate body and the seats of the first ring and with an inner diameter such as to allow the insertion of a respective screw suitable for engagement with the female thread of the respective pin; wherein, in use, the articulation device is in a position substantially aligned with malleoli of a user and includes them in the transverse direction within its thickness through the said first second rings and annular body.
 2. (canceled)
 3. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein one of the two seats is arranged between the two bottom-upper arms.
 4. (canceled)
 5. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein the annular body has two annular edges projecting in opposite senses along the transverse direction and with an outer diameter such as to allow the insertion, with slight friction inside the central opening, of the first ring and the second ring, respectively.
 6. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein the seats of the first ring, the holes of the intermediate body and the eyelets of the second ring are, in use, aligned with each other along the transverse axis.
 7. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the annular body is such as to allow the pins to project for insertion of their free ends inside the respective eyelet of the second ring.
 8. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the annular body and of the pins is such as to allow the latter to pass through the first ring and the intermediate body for insertion of their free end inside the respective eyelet of the second ring.
 9. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein the stops projecting from the cover in the transverse direction (Y-Y) are arranged in angular positions such as to be arranged between the pin and the terminal end of the eyelet of the second ring so as to form a different end-of-travel stop for relative rotation of the first ring and second ring.
 10. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein the front arm is fixed to the bottom upper in a position approximately corresponding to a metatarsal joint of a little toe and big toe of the user.
 11. Footwear according to claim 1, further comprising movable means for precisely adapting the closure of the upper to the volume of the calf muscle of the user.
 12. Footwear according to claim 11, wherein said means for adapting the closure comprises substantially two flaps designed to grip a calf muscle of the user and/or in that each flap is fastened to the respective arm of the articulation device, which is associated with the upper.
 13. Footwear according to claim 12, wherein each flap has on its rear face a rack section which is designed to mesh with a corresponding rack present on a front surface of a tongue for connecting together the two flaps.
 14. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein a sole, preferably designed with an asymmetrical form having a greater height on an inner side and smaller height on an outer side, is applied to the insole.
 15. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein the insole has an inner side which is substantially straight.
 16. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein a sole which has a substantially straight inner side is applied to the insole.
 17. Footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing toe-piece provided with concavity applied to the toe of the said footwear.
 18. Footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a further reinforcement applied to the bottom upper in the vicinity of the outer surface of the toe of the footwear.
 19. Footwear according to claim 1, further comprising an insert applied to the bottom upper in the vicinity of the heel of the said footwear.
 20. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein the insert has a first section which is substantially straight and a second section which is inclined from the top downwards and from the outside towards the inside.
 21. Footwear according to claim 19, wherein the insert has a through-hole for a screw for fixing to the upper and a tooth projecting from the surface of the inclined section facing the upper and designed to be inserted inside a corresponding seat in a heel-piece of the said upper. 